FEATURES TO REDUCE LOW-BATTERY REPORTING TO SECURITY SERVICES AT NIGHT
First Claim
1. A method for monitoring low-battery state conditions within a battery-powered RF sensor (“
- RF sensor”
) included within a security and alarm system, the RF sensor including a battery electrically connected to power the RF sensor, and a counter, the method comprising the steps of;
at a regular interval, detecting an output voltage level of the battery; and
comparing the detected battery output voltage level to a first designated voltage threshold level;
wherein, if the detected battery output voltage level is less than the first designated voltage threshold level, comparing the detected battery output voltage level to a second designated voltage threshold level, andwherein,if the detected battery output voltage level is not less than the second designated voltage threshold level, determining whether the counter associated with the RF sensor is active, and has counted down; and
if the counter is active, sending a low battery communication signal if the counter has counted down, otherwise, setting the counter to begin counting down; and
wherein,if the detected battery output voltage level is less than the second designated voltage threshold level, sending the low battery communication signal.
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0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A battery-powered RF sensor is provided for use in security and alarm systems for monitoring alarm state conditions, and transmitting an alarm state detection signal upon detection of an alarm state condition. The RF sensor is constructed to include an RF transmitting portion, a battery, a low-battery voltage level detection portion and a counter for periodically detecting an output voltage level of the battery, and comparing the voltage level to a first threshold voltage. If the detected battery output voltage level is determined to be less than the first threshold voltage, the low- or depleted-battery state is not immediately reported, but is reported at another time if the low-battery condition persists. That is, the low battery condition would preferably not be reported until daytime hours, other than for a dead battery condition. The reporting control is implemented by use of the low-battery voltage detection portion, which looks to a counter to determine the elapsed time since the low- or depleted-battery condition is detected. If the low- or depleted-battery condition persists until the counter counts down, the condition is automatically reported.
17 Citations
28 Claims
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1. A method for monitoring low-battery state conditions within a battery-powered RF sensor (“
- RF sensor”
) included within a security and alarm system, the RF sensor including a battery electrically connected to power the RF sensor, and a counter, the method comprising the steps of;at a regular interval, detecting an output voltage level of the battery; and comparing the detected battery output voltage level to a first designated voltage threshold level; wherein, if the detected battery output voltage level is less than the first designated voltage threshold level, comparing the detected battery output voltage level to a second designated voltage threshold level, and wherein, if the detected battery output voltage level is not less than the second designated voltage threshold level, determining whether the counter associated with the RF sensor is active, and has counted down; and if the counter is active, sending a low battery communication signal if the counter has counted down, otherwise, setting the counter to begin counting down; and wherein, if the detected battery output voltage level is less than the second designated voltage threshold level, sending the low battery communication signal. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
- RF sensor”
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7. A battery-powered RF sensor for monitoring alarm state conditions and transmitting an alarm state detection signal upon detection of an alarm state condition, the RF sensor comprising:
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an RF transmitting portion; a battery; a counter; a low-battery voltage level detection portion for periodically detecting an output voltage level of the battery, and comparing the battery output voltage level to a first designated threshold voltage level, wherein, if the detected battery output voltage level is less than the first designated voltage threshold level, comparing the detected battery output voltage level to a second designated voltage threshold level, and wherein, if the detected battery output voltage level is not less than the second designated voltage threshold level, determining whether the counter associated with the RF sensor is active, and has counted down; and if the counter is active, sending a low battery communication signal if the counter has counted down, otherwise, setting the counter to begin counting down; and wherein, if the detected battery output voltage level is less than the second designated voltage threshold level, sending the low battery communication signal. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A security and alarm system for monitoring a secured location, comprising:
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a central panel; and at least one battery-powered RF sensor for monitoring the secured location for alarm events, and communicating with the central panel, wherein the battery-powered RF sensor comprises; a battery; an RF transmitting portion; a low-battery output voltage level detection portion; and a counter’ wherein the low-battery detection portion periodically detects an output voltage level of the battery and compares it to a first designated voltage threshold level, and if the detected battery output voltage level is less than the first designated voltage threshold level, comparing the voltage level to a second designated voltage threshold level, wherein, if the detected battery output voltage level is less than the second threshold voltage level, sending a low battery communication signal. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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25. A computer program product, comprising:
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a tangible storage medium readable by a processing circuit and storing instructions for execution by the processing circuit for performing a method for monitoring low-battery state conditions within a battery-powered RF sensor (“
RF sensor”
) comprising a security and alarm system, the RF sensor including a battery electrically connected to power the RF sensor, and a counter, wherein the method comprises the steps of;at a regular interval, detecting an output voltage level of the battery; and comparing the detected battery output voltage level to a first designated voltage threshold level; wherein, if the detected output voltage level is less than the first designated voltage threshold level, determining whether a counter associated with the RF sensor is active, wherein, if the counter is inactive, setting the counter, wherein, if the counter is active, comparing the detected output voltage level with a second designated voltage threshold level; and wherein, if the detected battery output voltage level is less than the second designated voltage threshold level, clearing the counter and sending a low battery communication signal. - View Dependent Claims (26, 27)
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28. A method for monitoring low-battery state conditions within a battery-powered RF sensor (“
- RF sensor”
) included within a security and alarm system, the RF sensor including a battery electrically connected to power the RF sensor, the method comprising the steps of;at a regular time interval, detecting an output voltage level of the battery; and comparing the detected battery output voltage level to a first designated voltage threshold level; wherein, if the first detected battery output voltage is less that the first designated voltage threshold level, determining how long the detected battery output voltage has been below said threshold voltage; and wherein if less than a critical time period, taking no action unless the detected battery output voltage level is less than the second designated voltage threshold level, in which case sending the low battery communication signal.
- RF sensor”
Specification